Electronic sighting device and method of calibratingreticule without adjusting optical lens position

ABSTRACT

An electronic sighting device and method is described for calibrating a shooting device. The sighting device includes a display screen, mounting clip, optical lens, and an external infra-red torch for light compensation. By one discharge from the shooting device, the adjustable targeting reticule of the electronic sighting device can be set to align with the targeting position. The alignment process does not require adjusting the optical lens position, nor the mounting position of the sighting device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is relates to the method used in an electronic sightingdevice with a sighting screen for the field of view, particularly, theview image is digital processed for displaying and calibrating thetargeting reticule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A traditional sighting device for a shooting device is made by anoptical lens. For targeting, user requires to see through a small eyepiece, which image is small and will cause the eye tire after a longtime usage. Moreover, an optical sighting device is not work in a verylow-lux environment. Another drawback is the calibration of an opticalsighting device requires numbers of discharge from shooting device, thenumber of times will depend on the user experience for different kindsof surrounding environment.

This invention of electronic sighting device, overcomes the problems ofthe optical sighting device. The calibration of this electronic devicecan be carried out in a straight and simple method.

DESCRIPTION

This invention adapted the current electronic camera technology to buildfor a night vision sighting device for shooting devices. It displays thefield of shooting view on screen, records and playbacks the discharges.The recorded video clips can be transferred to a USB device or store ina TF memory card.

The device is composed by an aluminum body, LCD screen, optical lens andcover, mounting clips, battery compartment and an external infra-redtorch.

The optical lens is embedded into the aluminum body and its focal lengthcan be adjusted to match with different distance of shooting view. Whenthe view image goes through the lens and reaches the optical sensor ofthe camera, it will be displayed on the LCD screen by adapting theelectronic camera technology. User can select to see the almost realtime image from the screen or records as a video data. For the aimingpurpose, a targeting reticule is added on the view image through digitalimage processing and controlled by the software of camera.

The LCD screen is located at the back of the aluminum body. A largescreen is easy for viewing and aiming.

It is a battery operated device and its battery compartment is locatedon the right-hand-side of the aluminum body.

In a low-lux environment, an external infra-red torch provides lightcompensation for the view, which is mounted on the left-hand-side of thealuminum body.

A mounting clip is located at the bottom of the aluminum body and usedto mount the sighting device on a shooting device body.

Calibration procedure for displaying targeting reticule

Step 1

Mount an electronic sighting device on the shooting device's body.

Step 2

Turn on the sighting device and see the view on the LCD screen. Thetargeting reticule is shown in the center of the screen.

Step 3

Adjust the optical lens to match with the shooting distance in order theLCD screen shows a suitable view of the strike target.

Step 4

Discharge the first shoot to target.

Method 1, move the targeting reticule to the struck position of thefirst discharge.

Method 2, move the viewing area away from the center of the screen untilthe targeting reticule hit on the position of the first discharge.

Step 5

Save the position and finished the calibration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of an electronic sighting device.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective elevational view of an electronic sightingdevice.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective elevational view of an electronic sightingdevice.

FIG. 4 (FIG. 4-1 and FIG. 4-2) shown the method (1) of the calibrationprocedure by moving the targeting reticule on the struck position.

FIG. 4-1 shown the view of the display screen where A is the aimposition of the reticule, and B is the struck position.

FIG. 4-2 shown the view of the display screen where A is the originalposition of the reticule, B is the actual struck position, X is thehorizontal distance and y is the vertical distance from the originalreticule position and the actual struck position.

FIG. 5 (FIG. 5-1 and FIG. 5-2) shown the method (2) of the calibrationprocedure by moving the viewing area until hit the targeting reticule onthe struck position.

FIG. 5-1 shown the view of the display screen where A is the aimposition of the reticule, and B is the struck position.

FIG. 5-2 shown the view of the display screen where A is the originalposition of the reticule, B is the actual struck position, X is thehorizontal distance and y is the vertical distance from the originalreticule position and the actual struck position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The present invention is described below in combination with theaccompanying drawings, in which the same reference numbers are usedthroughout the different figures to designate the same components.

With the reference to FIG. 1, it is showing the step 1 of thecalibration procedure for the targeting reticule. The electronicsighting device is built from an aluminum body 2 and mounted on theshooting device by the aid of the mounting clip 4. User is able to seethe field of view images through the optical lens 5, and displayed onthe screen of the main control unit 1. The external infra-red torch 7 isused for light compensation.

The FIG. 2 showing the LCD screen 11 is built on the main control unit1. The sighting device is a battery operated device and its batterycompartment 3 is located on the right-hand-side of the aluminum body 2.The FIG. 2 also shows a lens cover 6 for the protection of the opticallens 5.

The FIG. 3 shows the USB connector 12, and TF memory card slot 13 forthe images storage. The functional keys 14 used for the interfacing withthe main control unit 1. Ladder shape housing 21 and 22 are used formounting the external infra-red torch. On the top of the batterycompartment, it is a battery cover 31.

FIG. 4 is showing method (1) of the calibration procedure by moving thetargeting reticule. FIG. 4-1 shows the aim position of the reticule A,and B is the struck position. FIG. 4-2 shows moving the reticule A ontothe struck position B, in order to adjust for the vertical delta y andhorizontal delta X between A and B.

FIG. 5 is showing method (2) of the calibration procedure by moving theviewing area. FIG. 5-1 shows the aim position of the reticule A, and Bis the struck position. FIG. 5-2 shows moving the whole viewing areawith reticule A onto the struck position B, in order to adjust for thevertical delta y and horizontal delta X between A and B.

1. A sighting device comprising, a camera device mounted on a shootingdevice to show a field of view on the screen of the device. A targetingreticule will be generated and displayed on the screen to indicate theaiming position, and this targeting reticule can be adjusted by aligningwith, the position in a field of view on screen, or the position in therecorded video, of the previous discharge, through the functional keyson the camera manually.
 2. The sighting device according to claim 1,wherein the device's screen shows the current field of view with thetargeting reticule.
 3. The sighting device according to claim 1, whereinthe sighting device records video and playback on the screen foraligning of the targeting reticule.
 4. The sighting device according toclaim 1, wherein the sighting device embedded with a USB socket forcomputer communication and video transfer from the sighting device. 5.The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting deviceembedded with a TF memory card slot for storage of the recorded video.6. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting deviceincludes optical lens with an adjustable focal length to match adistance at which the target is expected to be struck.
 7. A sightingdevice comprising with an aluminum body with a mounting clip formounting on a shooting device.
 8. A sighting device comprising with anexternal mounting infra-red torch for the light compensation for cameraview and video recording.
 9. The calibrating method according to claim1, wherein the calibration requires one discharge from a shooting deviceto strike on target, and moves the targeting reticule on the screen tothe struck position. For implementing the movement of the targetingreticule can be done by two operations, either (1) to keep the samescreen display of the field of view, and move the targeting reticule tothe correct position. The targeting reticule may not still locate in thecenter of the screen; or (2) to keep the targeting reticule in thecenter of the screen and shift the viewing area by the deviateddistance. Both methods can be completed through the camera functionalkeys.